Hatch Chile Roasting at the following Ralphs Grocery Stores:
Saturday August 13
10am-4pm
Ralphs, 380 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa CA (949) 645-8283
Ralphs, 521 W. Foothill Blvd., La Canada CA (818) 790-0584
Saturday August 20
10am-4pm
Ralphs, 11727 Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles CA (310) 473-5238
Ralphs, 5241 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach CA (714) 377-0024
Saturday August 27
10am-4pm
Ralphs, 13321 Jamboree Rd., Tustin CA (714) 544-0491
Ralphs, 3601 E. Foothill Blvd. Pasadena CA (626) 351-6572
What is a Hatch Chile?
These famous chile peppers are grown only in Hatch, New Mexico in the late summer/early fall. Southwesterners go wild for this bold and spicy pepper. There are even festivals dedicated to them!
The most popular way to enjoy Green Hatch Chiles is to roast them. The aroma is addicting!
Recipes:
Macho Chile Rellenos
Hatch Green Chile Corn Bread
Hatch Cream Cheese Enchiladas
Hatch Chile Salsa Verde
Hatch Chile Chili
How to roast at home?
First, put on a pair of plastic gloves. These chiles are spicy. Don’t touch your mouth or eyes after handling them! Next, wash the chiles and pat dry. Slice a lengthwise slit in the fresh chile and remove the seeds with a spoon. (Leave the stems on.) Then, use one of these roasting methods:
1. On the grill
Place peppers directly on the (gas-powered) grill on high heat. Allow the flames to blister and blacken the skin. Turn peppers to char other side.
2. In the oven
Place chiles on a baking sheet in the oven on high-heat broiler setting - about 5 inches from the broiler element. The skin will blister and turn black, and your home will be filled with spicy pepper aroma. Turn the peppers to get all sides charred evenly.
Once the skin is evenly charred, place hot roasted chiles in a paper (or plastic) bag to steam and “sweat” for 15 minutes. This helps loosen the skins. (Alternatively, you cover them with a damp kitchen towel for 15 minutes.)
Serving Ideas
Slip the skins off your freshly roasted chiles (keep those glove on). Keep them whole and stuff with cheese for chile rellenos, or chop for salsas, sauces, chili, tamales, breads, etc.
How to freeze
Hatch Chile aficionados recommend freezing whole roasted Hatch Chiles (with or without seeds, depending on heat preference) with skins on. When ready to use, defrost and skins should peel more easily.
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